India gets Switzerland support for NSG entry

Switzerland on Monday pledged its support to India's entry into the elite 48-member nuclear trading nations' club called Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

"We have promised India support in its efforts to become a member of NSG," Switzerland President Johan Schneider-Ammann said after a meeting with visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

India has been lobbying hard for years to get the membership in the club. However, India has been kept out of the group so far because of China's opposition on the ground that India has refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty even as the country developed its own nuclear technology.

With the Switzerland support, Modi has scored a big diplomatic victory.

Thanking the Swiss president for the pledged support, Modi said India and Switzerland shared "a commitment to reform international institutions in line with current global realities".

"We have both agreed to support each other for our respective bids for the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council. I am also thankful to the President for Switzerland's understanding and support for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group," Modi said at a joint press conference with the Swiss President.

--IANS

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